St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-02-15
THE SENATE.
Debate on the Bill for the COnstruc.
ton OF Zen New War Ships The
Northern Pacific,

ii
Northern Pacific.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.-On motion of
Mr.. Cameron the senate took up for con-
sideratiOn-37 to 1.-THE bill introduced
and reported by him ''to increase the naval
establishment" An amendment was added
to the second section in these words:
Save that in all their parts they shall be OF
American manufacture.
On motion of MI. Morgan a section was
added requiring the construction of three of
the vessels on the Pacific coast, three on
the Gulf of Mexico and four on the Atlantic
coast. Mr.. Van Wyck inquired whether
provision was made in the bill for war yes
sells on the lakes. Mr.. Hale, chairman of the
committee on naval affairs, replied that the
companion bill, which he would call up at
an early day, covered the futures of fotlla
batteries Oh RATS for harbor defenses.
torpedo boats and other appliances, and
also of light draught gunboats for use OH
the Western lakes. Mr.. Butler, member
of the committee on naval affairs, suggested
to Mr.. Hale that he would be safe in adding
that both bills (Cameron's and Hale's) had
the
as &! UNANIMOUS SANCTION
of the committee Oh naval affairs. Mr..
Van Wyck made a calculation that the ag-
gregate amount appropriated in these bills.
and in the twin ordnance bills recently
passed, would reach S11, 100000. Mr.
Hale said that even if they did their eX-
penditure would range through period of
from three to six years, and. therefore,
would only interfere to that extent with that
treasury surplus. Mr.. Van Wyck remarked
that the surplus was problematical. 1t was
extremely doubtful if there would be any
surplus for the coming year. He agreed.
however, with a remark made by the sena-
tor from Kansas (Nlr. Plumb) that there
was no danger of this bill becoming a law
He presumed that it was not introduced
and reported with the expectation, hope or
desire that it would become law. The
people were not complaining of there being
a few million dollars in the treasury, but
they were complaining Of high taxes. The
object of these bills was to give an excuse
for not reducing the taxes. The object was
to drain and empty the treasury, SO as to be
able to say that the taxes could not be re-
duced, and when pensions were asked for
disabled and impoverished soldiers they
would be told that that could not be done,
because there was no money in the treasury.
They were more valuable than steel ships
and Notifications. They would have to be
niggardly in paying the men who had
offered their bodies as bulwarks against
those who sought to take the life of the ma
| ton. because, forsooth, there would be no
money in the treasury to pay them. He
believed that the best way to make provi-
sion for the next war would be
GENEROUS PRoDIGALITY,
liberality of the government toward its de-
tenders. Mr.. Riddleberger "a member of
the committee on naval affairs) said that he
| might be classified as one of those who
had sought to take the life of the nation, -
but now, since it had become a nation. he
| was willing to vote the money necessary to
| maintain it as a nation. At o'clock the
presiding officer laid before the senate the
unfinished business. being the Eads-
Tehauntepec bill. Mr.. Cameron moved to
postpone that bill till tomorrow, so as to
get on with the naval bill. The motion was
defeated. Yeas "a, nays %. Mr.. Riddle
berger observed, ''as parting salute to the
| naval bill, . that the vote just taken was a
| record to show the American senate pre-
| tered to take up the Eads ship
| railroad bill to doing that which American
| sentiment demanded toward the recon-
| struction of the navy. The naval bill was
laid aside. Mr.. Dolph, from the confer
ence committee OH the senate bill restoring
| to the United States certain lands granted
| to the Northern Pacific Railway company,
reported that the committee had been un-
able to agree. Mr.. Plumb inquired as to
the cause OF the seemingly great delay in
making the conference report. Mr.. Dolph
thought the inquiry
A PERTINENT ONE,
and he sent to the clerks desk and had read
a letter written to-day by the senate con-
fereeS to the house conferees, of which the
following is an extract:
Since then (Feb. 4) we have heard nothing.
officially or unoficially, concerning the mat
ter, although we Immediately renewed our re-
quest Tor possession OF the bill so as TO enable
us to submit the conference report in the
senate. We cannot comprehend the cause of
the delay. as we do not understand that there
is any difference of opinion between the man.
ayers on the part of the house as to what shall
be done to secure the submission of the con-
ference report. If there is any difference of
opinion upon this point please inform us; if
not. kindly send the bill by the bearer the
clerk OF the committee on public lands. or
adopt such other method of transmission as
you are advised is proper
Mi. Plumb stated the reason why the de-
lay was q proper subject of inquiry was that
all the time the while question was in
suspense the Northern Pacific Railway COM
pany was constructing additional sections
OF the road and earning lands which it was
the benehcent purpose of the bill to forfeit.
he believed that at least 1000, 600 acres of
the public lands had passed from under
control OF the United States. For that
reason the question of delay was very i'm
portant one. The report was adopted and
a new conference ordered, Dolpii. Teller
and Cochrell being reappointed on the part
of the senate